How to make a hot water bottle cover

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Hot water bottles are essential in the colder months. Make yours unique by crafting a cosy quilted cover.

What you'll need

* Hot water bottle
* Main fabric
* Cotton batting
* Contrast fabric
* Matching thread
* Decorative button

1) You will need to make three templates (see below illustration): front, upper back, and lower back (the two back pieces form an envelope fold). Draw around the hot water bottle to make templates, adding 2cm all round on most pieces and 2.5cm for the envelope hems on the back pieces.

2) From the main fabric cut two front pieces and one of each back piece. Use the front template to cut one piece of cotton batting. Cut enough bias strips of contrast fabric to fit around the cover when joined, plus extra to cover the top edge of the front piece and to make a fastening loop for the button.

3) Place one front piece wrong side up on your worksurface, the cotton batting on top, followed by the second front piece, right side up. Baste the three layers together.

4) To create quilting, run lines of machine stitch on the diagonal 4cm apart in each direction through all layers. Remove basting. Right sides facing and matching raw edges pin the contrast bias trim in place along the straight top edge and stitch. Fold trim over to the underside, tuck under the raw edge and slip stitch.

5) Stitch a 2.5cm hem along the straight edge of each back piece and press. Place the quilted front wrong side up and place the lower back piece on top, right side up and matching raw edges along the curved lower edge. On top of this, place the upper back piece, matching raw edges and checking the hemmed edges overlap to form the envelope opening. Tack front and back pieces together all round.

6) Attach contrast bias trim as before around the main part of the cover, incorporating the fastening loop in position between the upper back piece and the trim as you go.

7) Pull the cover over the hot water bottle through the envelope fold, turn down the flap and mark the position of the button. Stitch the button in place and fasten using the loop.

Sponsored by Laura Ashley.  

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